A Paraty Boat Party

Paraty Boat Tours

The only reasonable follow up I could think of after a full day of playing in waterfalls was island hopping around Paraty. Just a short walk through the beautiful colonial village and you arrive at Paraty’s main harbor where colorful boats lineup for daily expeditions. For less than $20 USD we boarded a big schooner for […]

My Paradise in Paraty

Paraty Waterfalls - Penha Waterfall

When people give their definition of paradise it often includes white-sand beaches and warm, crystal clear water. Like a gay guy looking at Megan Fox, I can appreciate the the beauty, but it’s not my idea of perfection. My paradise is bright green foliage and cold dark water. It’s a day in the forest climbing up […]

Picturing Paraty

Paraty Photos - Colonial Town Touches

The beautifully preserved colonial town of Paraty snuggles itself between lush, green mountains and a bright blue bay. Whitewashed buildings and cobblestone streets serve as a real-life oil painting that you can walk through. After a great trip to Buzios and Arraial do Cabo I was fixing for more small town adventures, so the following […]

Exploring Arraial do Cabo

Arraial do Cabo Harbor

The land of hidden gems. That’s officially the new slogan of Brazil. I haven’t told the secretary of tourism yet but he’ll understand. It seems like around every turn, in every region, there’s a “can’t miss” place that locals rave about. It’s a beach, park, waterfall, neighborhood, etc. that you just don’t hear from until you’re within range. […]

A Weekend Warrior’s Guide to Buzios

Buzios Travel Guide - Rent a Buggy

In desperate need of an escape from all the dudes in Rio after the World Cup, a few friends and I headed east to the peninsula paradise they call Buzios. Just a three hour bus ride from Rio, it’s the perfect getaway for Cariocas seeking refuge from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Thanks to a well-publicized […]

Rio de Janeiro Favelas – Santa Marta

Santa Marta Favela in Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Last Sunday morning I decided it was time to go see Michael up in Santa Marta. I waved down the local public bus just outside my apartment and made the short, 10-minute ride over to the Botafogo neighborhood to experience another one of Rio de Janeiro’s many faces – life in the favelas. Santa Marta […]

World Cup Behind the Scenes [VIDEO]

World Cup Behind the Scenes Video

Come behind the scenes with me as I take you through one of the most insane months of my life – The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. I worked for an Australian tour company, attend five matches in five different Brazilian cities and watched the semi finals and finals matches back home in Rio de […]

World Cup 2014 in Brazil (33 Photos)

Brazil World Cup 2014 - Brazil vs Germany - Fan Fest Copacabana - Brazil vs Germany

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil was an absolute blur, but luckily I managed to capture a few highlights on camera that I’ll be able to show my grandkids one day. If you’ve already read the World Cup Wrap Up than you have an understanding of how things went down, but either way, a picture’s worth […]

My World Cup Wrap Up

World Cup 2014 Brazil - Curitiba Stadium - Australia vs Spain

It took me a few days after the final to kick my World Cup hangover, but I’m finally back online after almost a month hiatus to report that my Brazilian World Cup experience has officially come and gone. It has been one wild and crazy month filled with emotionally highs and lows for teams and […]

2 World Cup Brackets

FIFA 2014 World Cup Brackets

My final picks are in and I have created two World Cup Brackets. The first is how I think the World Cup will go and the second is how I would like the World Cup to go. I’m back in Rio de Janeiro (for the moment) after a wild trip around Brazil to start a […]